SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to Daily Routine

German Phrase

Hast du heute viel zu tun?

/hast du ˈhɔʏtə ˈfiːl tsuː ˈtuːn/
Meaning"Do you have a lot to do today?"
💡

Meaning

Literally, ‘Do you have a lot to do today?’ It is a friendly way to ask someone about how busy their day is, often implying interest in making plans or offering help.

🎯

When to use

Use this informal question with friends, classmates, or coworkers you know well. It works well at the start of a conversation, after a greeting, or when you want to gauge whether the person is free later.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Hastduheutevielzutun?

1

Hast (haben)

‘Hast’ is the 2nd person singular present form of the verb ‘haben’ (to have). It is used for questions with ‘du’.

2

du

The informal singular pronoun. Use it with friends, family, or peers; avoid it in formal settings.

3

heute

An adverb of time meaning ‘today’. It usually follows the verb in German questions.

4

viel

A quantifier meaning ‘a lot’ or ‘much’. It stays unchanged before an infinitive.

5

zu + infinitive

The construction ‘zu tun’ is the infinitive with ‘zu’, equivalent to ‘to do’ in English. It follows ‘viel’ to express ‘a lot to do’.

6

Word order in yes‑no questions

German yes‑no questions start with the finite verb, followed by the subject and then the rest of the sentence.

🗨In Conversation

A

Hey, hast du heute viel zu tun?

Hey, do you have a lot to do today?

Nicht wirklich, ich habe nur ein paar E‑Mails zu beantworten. Warum?

Not really, I only have a few emails to answer. Why?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Hast du heute viele zu tun?

    ‘Viele’ is the plural form of ‘much/many’; with an infinitive you need the singular ‘viel’.

  • Haben du heute viel zu tun?

    In a question the finite verb must be first; ‘Haben du…’ is incorrect.

  • Hast du heute viel tun?

    Dropping ‘zu’ changes the meaning; ‘Hast du heute viel tun?’ is ungrammatical.

  • Hast du heute viel zu tun, Sie?

    Using the formal ‘Sie’ with ‘du’ creates a mismatch; choose one pronoun.

↔Alternatives

  • Hast du heute viel zu erledigen?

    Do you have a lot to accomplish today?

  • Bist du heute beschäftigt?

    Are you busy today?

  • Hast du heute viel um die Ohren?

    Do you have a lot on your plate today?

de

Cultural Tip

The phrase ‘viel zu tun haben’ is a staple of everyday German. It’s perfectly natural in informal speech, but in a formal setting you would replace ‘du’ with ‘Sie’: ‘Haben Sie heute viel zu tun?’ Also, Germans often appreciate directness, so asking this question shows genuine interest without being overly intrusive.